After many years of success, and Showgirls in Hollywood, Paul Verhoeven made his return to Dutch filmmaking with this World War Two spy thriller.

At the end of the war, a young Jewish woman, Rachel, attempts to flee the Southern Netherlands. When the attempt fails, she joins the resistance and as such becomes involved with an SS Officer, Müntze, initially working in his office and later as his lover. As she moves deeper into the crumbling Nazi regime, she must discover the secret of who is betraying the resistance while keeping herself alive.

With a budget of around sixteen million euros, Black Book is the most expensive Dutch movie to date. Carice van Houten, Holland’s most celebrated actress, takes the lead and did all her own singing in the various nightclub scenes. Verhoven stamps the movie with all the flair and salaciousness his reputation is based upon.